The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Wednesday, accuses the state of infringing on constitutional privacy and free speech rights by requiring anyone who views an adult site to essentially upload their government issued ID for verification. But the lawsuit also contends the state doesn't have the capability to verify digital IDs online.
The Free Speech Coalition has insisted it does not want children accessing adult websites, but Utah's law is too difficult to actually implement and there are already options for parents like filtering technology, which the U.S. Supreme Court recognized as an effective means. The group also contends the law is vague when it comes to defining"materials harmful to minors."
The Utah State Legislature this year unanimously passed the bill and Governor Spencer Cox signed it into law earlier this year. It went into effect on Wednesday.